A medley of popular Christmas songs and carols will be ringing around Chester city centre over the festive period after CH1ChesterBID announced the launch of a brand new festival in partnership with Theatre in the Quarter.

Chester’s Christmas Voices Music Festival gets underway from Thursday November 24 and will see pop-up performances taking place across the city centre, featuring singers from 12 local schools, five community choirs and the Chester Victorian Choir.

Taking place between 6-8pm, the event will start with a unique ‘opening of the gates’ ceremony with Romans and Vikings underneath the Eastgate Clock to officially let Christmas into the city centre.

Christmas-themed light projections will illuminate the city centre throughout the event and a mass public sing-along will also take place along Eastgate Street, led by Theatre in the Quarter’s Matt Baker from the top of the Chester Heritage Bus. Children from schools across the borough will join forces in the performance of a Christmas Medley, arranged by Matt Baker.

Julie Charlton, Marketing Manager at CH1ChesterBID, said: “Heading into Chester city centre on a Thursday evening for late night shopping or a bite to eat is an absolute must this Christmas. Our pop-up performances have been designed to get everyone in the Christmas spirit, so whether you want to sing along or just enjoy some festive favourites, these events are guaranteed to make you smile.”

The two-hour performance will be repeated one week later on Thursday 1 December at the slightly earlier time of 4pm.

Matt Baker, artistic director of Theatre in The Quarter and also A Handbag of Harmonies who will be performing on the night, added: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be a part of my hometown’s Christmas celebrations again this year and I can’t wait to lead such a diverse collection of voices in our Christmas medley. We have been visiting many school choirs who have been preparing the new Christmas Medley.”

“There’s so much going on in Chester city centre this Christmas and we’re really pleased to be adding some lively Christmas songs and carols to the festive mix. Our Victorian Choir will be adding some festive nostalgia into the mix too! It’s beginning to look and sound a lot like Christmas!”